Collapsible clothes-rack.



B. `NLLSON OOLLAPSIBLE ULOTHEB RACK.

I I a PPLTION FILED JULY l, 1000. BBNEWED JUNE 25, 1910. u' 984,591. Patented 1111.211911.

' n sums-s111121' 1.

E. NELSON. n lf COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES RACK. l K- PPLIoA'rIoH FILED JULY 1, 1909. RENBWED JUNE 25, 1910.

984,591. Patented Feb. 21, 1911.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

F IE:- 5 mi 56 1%- /f 4.9 44 4f 4f Wha/a l I v Y 4 tummy/s' UNITED sTATns PATENT onmon.

EDWARD NELSONfOF ALDRICH, MINNESOTA.

COIiLAPSIBLE CLOTHES-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1*` el). 21, 1911.

Application tiled July 1, 1909, Serial No. 505,421. Renewed June 25, 1910. Serial No. 568,894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD NELSON, a citizen of they United States, residing at Aldrich, in the county of 1Wadena, State ot v5 Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Clothes- Raclrs; and-I do hereby declare the follow- -ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. f

This invention relates to clothesl racks or frames, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device of' this character, which may be readily collapsed into av relatively small space when notJ required. and as readily distended when it is desired to be used.,

Another object. of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be adjusted vertically to produce a device of l varying heights..

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists 1n certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown' and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the improved device in its distended or operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view, enlarged. in section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. -t is a. sectional. elevation showing the parts in folded positions. Fig. 5 is a plan view,

enlarged, of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

The improved device comprises a central standard formed of a' plurality of tubular sections telescopically arranged. so that the 40 standard may be reduced to the total length of one of the sections, or extended to a length equal to all of the sections less the portions necessary to provide for rigidly coupling the members. Any required number of the sections may be employed. but for the purpose of illustration three of the sections are shown which will be the number generally used. but it will be understood that any required number may be employed, and it is not desired to limit the invention to any specific number of the sections or to any specific length of standard. The sections are denoted by the characters 10-11-12, and will be formed of tubes g sition. as represented in Fig. 1. 'The resili- 110 which closely engage within each other, as represented. 1

Extending from the lower end of the lower standard 10 arc ears .13, preferably arranged in pairs. and swinging at 14 be- 1 tween each pair of the ears is a leg member 15, the latter preferably formed from a portion of T-iron, as shown. Encircling the member 10 intermediate its ends is a divided band lt'with the portions of the band turned outward at the joint to form spaced ears l? through which a clamp bolt 18 is disposed, so that theband may be clam ed rigidly to the member 10 when required). Extendin from the band 16 are lugs 19. and pivoted at 2O to each of the lugs is a brace member 70 21. the free ends of the brace members be; ing pivotally connected at. Q2 to the leg members 15. Each pair of the ears 13 is provided with one of the legs, and the legs 19 are equal in number to the arms 13, so 75 that each leg member is provided with one of the braces 21. B v this arrangement it- Will be obvious that the legs 15 may be distended atany required extent by loosening the clamp bolt 18 and sliding the band 16 80 longitudinally of the member 10. or the legs and braces may be folded substantially in parallel relations to the standard membersl by moving the band upwardlyinto the position shown in Fig. 4 85 The tubular sections 11-12 are each provided with resilient catch devices whereby they may be locked in the distended or open position shown in Fig. lY and as they are preciselv alike the description of one will suiiice for both. The members 10-11 are provided with oppositely disposed longitudinal slots spaced from their lower ends. the .slots being represented at 23. while the members v10--11 are provided near their up- 95 y per ends with annularlv arranged recesses 'represented at 24. Located within the membersI 11-12 are wire catch devices. cach formed from a single piece of resilient wire` bent into inverted V-shapc whereby inclined 10 sides 'Q5-Q6 are formed. and with the sides bent at their free ends into inwardly directed loops 'QT-2S whereby shoulders Z9-30 and studs 31-32 are formed. The studs 31-32 are designed to enter the re- 10 cesscs '24 and tbe shoulders .29 are designed to bear upon thenpper ends of the members 10 and 11, when the several tubular members are arranged in distended or open poency of the arms 25-26 will maintain them normally in their outward position with automatically lock'the part.c in their dis-- tended position.

If it desired to lengthen the standard for a distance less than the total length of all of the sections, portions only of the. sections may be distended, leaving the remain- Civ ing sections withdrawn within the standard, as will he obvious. Thus the standard may be. distcnded a distance equal to one or more of the sections, as required.

Garment stretching; and supporting dcvices are connected to the upper end of the upper tubular member 12, and are constrncted as follows. The upper end of the member l2 is internally threaded, and fitting in this threaded portion is a. threaded stud 33 having an enlarged head 34C, the head being spaced for a distance above the member 12,

Y to provide a neck or bearing for the garment stretching and holding devices. Fitting over the upper end of the member 12 is a curved har or plate 35 having a longitudinal slot 3G through which the stud 33 passes, the slot extending a little more than one-half the lengthof .the'mcmber 35, so that the latter :nay be adjusted centrally thereof upon the stud as shown in Figs. l and 2, or disposed substantially parallel to the member 12 as shown in Fig. l when the device is in folded position, vas hereafter explained. The member 35 is formed with a downturned terminal 37 into which the slot 36 extends as shown at 38, to enable 'Lhe member 35 to be arranged in folded position as shown in. Formed upon the lower face. of the Fig. i.

, member 35 near the bent end 37 are spaced guideways or keepers 39 through which the side members of an elongated link l() are slidably disposed. while similar keepers 41 are connected to the member 35 at its opposite. end and provide. guidcways for the side members of a similar elongated link 4i. The links may be. moved outwardly as shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 5 to form extensions to the member 35. or withdrawn when the member 35 is arranged in folded position. as shown i in Fig. 4. The member 35 together with its extension links --13 forms a garment supporter or hanger over which cloaks. coats and like garments may be a `angled. and supported. 'Mounted to .swing at 44'to the member 35 is a locking member 45 having a barbed terminal 46 adapted to pass through lateral extensions li' in the member 35, and communicating with the .slot 3G, the barbed membei'rthus set-vin,"r (o lock the member 35 to the pin 33. as shownin Figs. l and Q. The member l5 is formed with a concaved lower face to lit overv the enlarged head 34 of the bar 33, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Extending from the member is a stud 47, which statuts vertically when the member 35 is in its operative position, as shown in Figs. l and f3, and tlms serve as a support. for a hat or like `garment. onnected to the member 35 centrally thereof. and surrounding the pin is an outwardly and downwardly directed plate 4S, thc plate beingr rigidly secured to the member by rivets or other like fastening devices lit. as shown in Fig. Mounted to swing at. 50 to the lower end of the plate -lS is an inner bar 5l, and mounted to swing at Si) at one end is an outer bar 53. the latter havin;r :ui open .slot 34 at its free end through which a button extends. the button being rotatable to enable the same to be turned flat-wise to permit the slot 5l t pass over it. and then turned at right angies to lock the members 51-53 together. The members {il-,53 thus serve as an etlieient device for suspending trousers and similar garments.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and wholly of metal, and may be located in any desired position, and moved from lace to place, and may be readily'folded within a comparatively small space when not. required.

what is claimed is:--

1. ln a device of the class described, a.A

directed studs are produced. said catch d evices arranged in the slots with the shoulders adapted to bear upon the ends of the adjacent section and the studs projecting through the apertures of thc same.

Q. In a device of the class described, a standard having a guide pin. a supporting member having a lonaitudinal slot movably engaging over said pin, and a catch device carried by said member and adapted to lock the same upon the pin.

3. Tn a device of the class described. a standard formed of a plurality of tubular sections telescopically arranged, means carried by said sections for maintaining them in extended relations, theinner tubularmember having a guide pin formed with a lateral head, a supporting member having a longitudinal slot, movably engaging over titl said pin and provided with lateral recesses, and a catch device having a barbed terml- .nal and swinging upon said inner member,

said barbed terminal passing through said Vslot, and the. recesses and engaging beneath same upon the pin, a plurality of leg mem-V bers mounted to swing from the lower standard section, a band carried by said lower standard section, means for adjustably connecting said band to said section, andbraces swingingly connected at one end to said band and at their other ends to said leg members. i'

5. A device of the class described comprising a standard having a ide pin, a supporting member having a ongitudinal slot, and with a laterally directed slotted terminal, said slots movably engaging over said pin, a catch device carried by said member and operating to lock the same upon the in,

and extensions niovably engaging said s oti ted member.

G. lin a device of the class described, a standard having a guide pin, a supporting member haring a longitudinal slot niovably engaging over said pin, a catch device carried by said member and operating to lock the saine upon the pin, guideways carried by said slotted member and spaced apart, and` links slidably engaging said guideways and forming extensions to the slotted member.

In testimony whereof, I aix Iny signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD NELSON. Witnesses S. L. FRAzrnn, L. D. Faazinn. 

